New venues say F1 projects on track

(GMM) Three future grand prix venues insist their plans are still on track, amid suggestions the global financial crisis is grinding many big projects to a halt.

Abu Dhabi is scheduled to host the 2009 championship finale on 1 November, but a number of large construction projects in the Arab country have already been postponed.

But track developer Aldar Properties has confirmed that the Yas Island venue will be complete by the forthcoming summer.

"All of the Yas Island phase one will be finished this summer, including obviously the F1 grand prix circuit," said chief executive John Bullough at a conference organized by the Canadian Business Council.

India and South Korea, meanwhile, were slated for debut races in 2011 and 2010 respectively.

Construction of a circuit in Delhi was scheduled to begin last October, but did not. It is now suggested that the work will now begin in the summer.

"Of course we will deliver … otherwise we wouldn't have entered into an agreement," F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, also referring to local race promoter Jaiprakash Associates, told the BBC Asian Network.

It also emerges that Korea's new circuit, in the south west province of Jellanamm, is under construction and expected to be allocated a late race date on the 2010 calendar.